Vulture Funds

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he had discussions with Ministers from other EU states to consider co-ordinated action to outlaw the activities of vulture funds; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The UK is determined to stop so-called "vulture" funds profiting from poor countries. The UK has been working through the G7 and the Paris Club to tackle this problem. In addition, Ministers have a range of discussions with EU and other international partners on international development and related issues.
	We are also focusing on creating a level playing field in which HIPC heavily indebted poor countries countries have the resources and expertise to defend themselves. In this context, we are working with the African Development Bank to develop proposals for a legal assistance facility to ensure that countries have access to high-quality legal advice to help them fight law suits.

Police Custody

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convicted prisoners have been held overnight in police cells or custody suites in Wales; and for how many nights each prisoner has been so held, broken down by police force area.

David Hanson: Figures for convicted prisoners are not held separately. Between 22 January and 7 November 2007, convicted and remand prisoners were held under Operation Safeguard in police cells in Wales on 3,863 occasions. The number of occasions does not correspond precisely to the number of prisoners: one occasion means one prisoner night in a police cell.
	This total breaks down by police force as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Dyfed Powys 615 
			 South Wales 1,054 
			 North Wales 1,478 
			 Gwent 716